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Methane and dust controls for headgate cutouts.

This paper discusses the headgate cutout, an area of concern for all retreating longwall mining operations. Because of the equipment and activities located in the headgate area, along with the ventilation flow pattern, methane and dust levels recorded at the shearer during the cutout are higher than for any other phase of the longwall mining cycle. This report presents several different techniques found by the Bureau of Mines over the past few years to successfully lower methane and dust levels during the headgate cutout for retreating longwall sections using antitropal ventilation (headgate to tailgate.) Each of these techniques improves the health and safety of longwall workers and is economically feasible.